WE CURRENTLY DO NOT RECOMMEND PLAYING AT BETAMERICA; INSTEAD, TRY ONE OF OUR PREFERRED SITES:
BetAmerica has close to two decades of experience offering bets on horse racing. It operates an online sportsbook in New Jersey and provides legal, regulated sports betting contests in Indiana and many other states.
This review will give you an overview of BetAmerica Sportsbook.
When BetAmerica online sportsbook launches in Indiana is not currently known. However, we have a great idea of how it might work in the Hoosier State by looking at its current Garden State set up.
Horse racing and sports betting contests are currently legal in Indiana.
You’ll have the opportunity to bet on horse races from around the world at BetAmerica. It will cover all US tracks and many major international races.
BetAmerica’s package includes:
- Apps
- Free past performance data
- Results
- Video coverage of live races
Our review covers the parts of BetAmerica that are available in Indiana.
- First, we examine the bonuses, promotions and loyalty rewards on offer.
- After that, we cover horse racing, contests and sports betting.
- At the end of this page, you’ll find useful information covering customer service and banking.
BetAmerica Indiana: 100% match welcome bonus
You won’t need a special bonus code to get the 100% match, first-deposit bonus at BetAmerica. This matches your first deposit, with $100 max.
BetAmerica releases the bonus into your cash balance in increments, which means you don’t need to place a single, large wager to take full advantage.
BetAmerica pays 10% of the value of all the wagers you place from your bonus money. This means that if you don’t complete enough wagering in time, you’ll still have accumulated several 10% installments.
With a full 30 days to complete the wagering, it should not be a problem for most racing fans.
Promotions and special offers at BetAmerica Indiana
In contrast with horse racing betting sites that have flashing graphics and click-bait headlines, the promotions’ page at BetAmerica is straightforward. BetAmerica displays its promotions in a “Promo Calendar.”
The offers are highlighted by turning some dates red. If you click on these, the offers appear below.
Examples include “VIP Payback,” which is a stake-return promo if the day’s star selection loses. When the big events appear, you’ll find multiple promotions. These might include specials for your horse finishing second or insurance for multi-pick wagers.
Wager Rewards loyalty program and VIP levels
The primary way BetAmerica reward regular bettors is via a tier-based rewards program.
It works by giving you points for your bets. The more you bet, the more points you receive and the higher you climb in the rewards program. There are two levels for irregular, smaller-stakes bettors, and five more tiers that are for VIP bettors.
As you climb the ladder, you will unlock some of the following benefits:
- VIP-only contests
- Exclusive promotions
- Anniversary gifts
- Free past performance data
While, overall there are not as many promotions advertised on BetAmerica compared to other legal betting sites in Indiana, its rewards program shows the site focuses on rewarding its loyal players.
BetAmerica horse racing site
In the main menu, you’ll find a lot of the links open new tabs to different sections of the site.
This includes a “Look Inside” link for not-yet registered bettors, the promos page and the help section.
When you first visit this legal betting site, the first thing you’ll see are the options to go to horse racing or sports betting.
If you are in New Jersey, you’ll get a full sportsbook. From Indiana, you get to a sports contests area (more on that later).
If you pick the “Horse Racing” option, you’ll get to a smart-looking screen which has a lot of options and links on it. This has three links at the top (four if you are not yet logged in).
These are menus with the following information:
- Racing: Options are for results or replays, schedules, live videos, past performances, carryovers, tracklist and wager pad (this is an interactive bet slip).
- Extra: Promos (this takes you to the rewards calendar), wager rewards, daily podcasts, card deposits, VIP services and BetAmerica extras (articles, previews and more).
- Help: The first link is for the homepage, then FAQ section, pending bonus, how-to guide and contact information.
The default view in the section below this is the next race to start. There are options to locate the races you are interested in via the left-hand column.
Here is a listing which is divided into “all/thoroughbred” and “quarter/harness” and “GH.” That brings up a list of tracks with those races allowing you to find individual meetings.
We like the display above the runners and riders when you choose individual races. You’ll see the race type, purse and breed category all featured in blue. You can then choose the individual runners to get information on their recent results. A green-colored link to the handicapping store will give you more information.
Your bet slip appears on the right as you make selections. We recommend checking out the “wager pad” link. This brings up a pop-up window with betting options for the current race (plus options to change race and track). You can pick your amount, bet type and selections, all via one smaller window.
BetAmerica mobile app
If you are an Android phone user, you’ll need to use the BetAmerica website because there isn’t an Android betting app available.
However, the website will respond to your screen size.
iPhone users will find the BetAmerica racing app at the Apple App Store. The app mimics the website closely and includes the wager pad, cashier functionality and a VIP progress area.
Betting markets at BetAmerica: Horse racing
If you can’t find a racetrack at BetAmerica, then it is doubtful you’ll find it on any betting site (let alone a legal one).
There are a staggering 425+ tracks available, which include domestic tracks for thoroughbred, harness and quarter horse racing. BetAmerica also covers international tracks, which include venues in countries where racing is just as popular as the US. For example, the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
Navigating through this huge list is made much easier by having the country, type of racing and individual track names available. If you are looking for a specific track, you’ll find a big search bar at the top of the main view. This can also be used for the names of individual races or horses.
Sports betting contests at BetAmerica
Contests use the daily fantasy sports (DFS) concept, with pari-mutuel pooled betting.
These are known by the long title: Easy to play daily pick ’em fantasy sports contests. They follow the format of the main DFS providers closely. You pick a lineup based on football, baseball or basketball, and hope your selections beat the other entrants to grab a prize.
There are live updates on match days showing you how your picks are doing compared to your rivals. You can enter feeder contests for smaller amounts, with a chance to win entry into a featured bigger prize pool contest.
Note that not all states covered by the horse racing and handicapping contests are also able to bet on these contests.
Full sports setting at BetAmerica
At the time of writing, the full BetAmerica sports betting site is only available in New Jersey. With bill H 1015 regulating online sportsbooks, we hope to see the following sports betting opportunities in Indiana soon.
The NJ sportsbook is completely different compared to the current Indiana sports contests area. New Jersey offers a fully functional online sportsbook. You can bet on major and college leagues, international sports and even bet while matches are underway in the ‘live betting’ section.
Players at the full sportsbook will enjoy a bigger bonus than at the race book. This is a 100% match up to $500 – a great way to get started. Note that horse racing bets can’t be placed on the NJ sportsbook.
What kind of horse racing bets can I place at BetAmerica?
When you bet on horse races, you’ll be participating in the pari-mutuel pools at the major racetracks.
This form of betting takes the total wagers in different categories and divides the funds among the bettors with the correct selections when the race is complete.
The wagers you can place via these pools are well established. Here is the list:
- Win
- Place
- Show
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
- Daily doubles
- Pick bets (parlays)
- Box bets (any order)
Pick-bet pools are often not won. It can be difficult to predict the winner of six or more races on the same meeting.
If a pool for this type of bet is not won, then they get carried over. With some big amounts being carried to future meetings, some profitable betting opportunities can appear. BetAmerica has a section dedicated to these pick-bet carryovers that are worth keeping an eye on.
Handicapping contests are an alternative way to bet at this site as it is a contest format.
You’ll be competing against other members to find winners of handicap races. These cover quarter and harness horses, as well as thoroughbreds.
Making your bet selection: How BetAmerica helps you pick winners
Regular racebook information includes the recent results of each participant. If you are looking for a bigger edge, then the past performance database information is where you should head.
BetAmerica makes this information free if you bet on the same race. The past performance database can give you a valuable edge in making selections. As well as the raw data, you’ll be receiving expert analysis and picks.
Banking options for Indiana at BetAmerica
Getting your money into a BetAmerica account and your profits out is easy.
You’ll find a lot of the banking options are the ones you already use for online shopping and bill payments.
One factor to consider before you deposit is whether you want to keep your bank account and betting separate.
Some bettors like to do this for employment or credit history purposes. For others, having simple transactions is the most important factor.
Third-party or alternate-payment options will keep your bank statement clean, and they usually have small transaction fees.
Here are the main options:
- Visa or Mastercard: Your regular bank credit or debit card is the quickest and easiest deposit option.
- Telecheck: Known as e-cash, this method transfers money from your bank account to BetAmerica.
- PayNearMe: This is a cash payment method. You will send money via the cashier desk at your nearest 7-Eleven store.
- MoneyPak: This service is operated by Green Dot. It allows you to deposit via the cashier at Walgreens, Safeway and other convenience stores.
- Prepaid cards: You can buy prepaid Visa cards at many convenience stores, note that these often have a limit of around $500.
- Check or wire: While not the fastest way, these methods are perfect for securely depositing larger amounts.
- Neteller: This electronic wallet gives you a secure bridge between your bank and the betting sites. This is similar to PayPal and will charge small fees each time you send money.
Responsible gaming and know your customer checks
For the majority of people to wager responsibly, it is important to protect individuals who have gambling problems.
You will find a “Wager Responsibly” link in the footer of the BetAmerica website, which takes you to a page with the relevant information.
This section includes links to help organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous. There is also a checklist, which is useful in finding out whether you (or someone you know) shows any symptoms of having gambling problems.
You can also find information on self-exclusion.
Also, you will find info on protecting minors and protecting bettors against fraud. The primary method for this is via know your customer (KYC) checks. This involves requesting back up ID documents from players, along with proof of deposit method.
Help and customer service at BetAmerica
While many sites try to avoid you calling or emailing them, clicking on “Help” at BetAmerica gives you a list of contact methods. In fact, there is a link to its FAQ.
Here are your contact options:
- Chat: Available from 9 a.m. to midnight. It brings up a window on the website connecting you instantly via text to an agent.
- Email: With BetAmerica aiming to respond within one hour, an email is always available. The address is [email protected].
- Phone: Available 9 a.m. to midnight, 364 days a year, you can call 1-866-607-7929 toll-free within the US.
The FAQ we refer to as the “Self-Service Area” contains links to a lot of frequently asked questions.
Most of them cover practical points like registering an account and making deposits. You will also find a lot of questions covering big races. Queries focus on casual bettors, who might only place the occasional wager, e.g., on the Kentucky Derby.
Wrapping up: How does BetAmerica compare?
What gives BetAmerica a leg up is its mix of horse racing bets and contests covering sports and handicapping. Most people come for the horse races, which cover a staggering 425+ racetracks from around the world.
Innovative software includes the “wager pad,” which makes placing bets easy once you get a feel for the interface. There are several ways to get form guides and results from the races, which includes detailed information and picks available via past performance package. You can get that free as long as you place a wager on the same race.
Promotions are not as varied as at other sites, though the BetAmerica VIP program is worth joining.
The program gives you access to a tier-based program, where the rewards get better the more you bet.
New players get a 100% matched bonus, which clears at 10% of total wagers. This bonus is ideal for bettors who don’t want to bet the maximum $100 at once.
Overall, BetAmerica is a trusted, long-running brand that is fully legal in Indiana for both horse racing and sports contests. With bill H 1015 signed, we hope to see a complete BetAmerica Sportsbook in Indiana soon.